In 1995, I was a 15 year old student at Tully State High School, playing junior rugby league for the Tully Tigers.  I can still remember the awesome thrill of attending my first North Queensland Cowboys home games in Townsville, against Balmain (Round 13) and the Western Reds (Round 20).

Ten years later in 2005, the achievement of making our first NRL Grand Final against the Wests Tigers was another coming-of-age moment for the
North Queensland Cowboys as a club, as well as an outstanding result for the players in the team.  No, I haven’t forgotten or forgiven – we were robbed!

Another decade has now passed and the North Queensland Cowboys are a hugely respected, consummately professional rugby league club and our players are recognised as elite performers in the competition.  The Cowboys are an institution in North Queensland.  We are immensely proud of you.

As an old, broken down retired prop forward, many people would be disappointed if I didn’t take the time to send a special message of encouragement and support to the Cowboys forward pack, led by our co-captain, Matt Scott.  I know you blokes do most of the work and deserve more recognition.

These days, as Patron of the Herbert River Crushers in Ingham, I know the great game of rugby league is a unifying force in North Queensland and the Cowboys are at the front of that movement.  Best of luck on Sunday gentleman and congratulations on an outstanding 2015 NRL season.